Texas city Uvalde braces for mass tourism as thousands are set to descend on city to witness solar eclipse's totality - just two years after school shooting: 'We're known for much more than a tragedy'

It's the small city that was put on the map after becoming the site of one of deadliest school shootings in the U.S. in 2022. 

But Uvalde, Texas is about to enjoy an altogether different focus of attention – as one of the few communities set to experience the longest and most dramatic moments of the total solar eclipse that will trace a narrow path north east across America on April 8.

The city, population 15,430, and immediate surrounding area is expecting some 100,000 visitors from up to 50 countries to descend for the phenomenon, when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth creating darkness during the day.

Uvalde is almost at the center of the 120-mile wide 'path of totality' and is scheduled to go completely dark for four minutes, 15 seconds starting at 1:29pm and 41 seconds.

That is roughly two minutes after the border town of Eagle Pass – the eclipse's port of entry into America – is plunged into darkness for a predicted 4.24 minutes.

The excitement over the rare phenomenon has attracted positive buzz to the community, nearly two years after it was left reeling from a mass shooting that left 21 people dead. 

Meanwhile, memorials of the May 2022 massacre - when 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos opened fire, killing 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School - remain prominent in Uvalde.

These include a poignant stone memorial with 21 white crosses on Highway 90 into the city, next to a giant artwork depicting actor Matthew McConaughey, who grew up there. The Hollywood star gave a passionate 20-minute address at the White House, urging gun control.

But chamber of commerce director John Yeackle told DailyMail.com: 'It's going to be refreshing for the world to see that Uvalde is known for more much more than a tragic incident.

'The tragedy was horrific and hearts goes out to the families that were most directly affected.

'Everybody that lives here in Uvalde is probably no more than one degree of separation from someone that was there that day. And I'm no different.

'So this is one of the opportunities that we're excited to showcase what Uvalde is really most known for. And it's not a tragedy, but it's being a gateway to the southwest part of Texas and the desert.'

Still, several Texas counties are taking precautions for public safety ahead of the event, with some even issuing emergency declaration, based mainly on the expected traffic nightmare and possible drain on power and resources.

These include Travis County which contains Austin, which is also in the path of totality and is shutting schools on August 8.

Yeackle, additionally an Uvalde County Commissioner, said: 'We're not going that far, but in the city we're not promoting or putting on events. Frankly, we're just trying to survive the event. 

'We're not interested in inviting more people. We're concerned with dealing with those already planning to come.

'I believe Interstate 10 north of us and Highway 90 right here will be a parking lot at about 12:45 on the day.

'I'm guessing maybe two thirds of the traffic will be people who drive in from Houston, San Antonio, and Austin – we have maybe four million people within 200 miles of us. There will be hours and hours of delays on the two major arteries.

'Distance is a relative thing in rural America. It's 75 miles minimum to San Antonio. For myself, it's not unusual for us to travel two or three times a week just to have dinner, a 150-mile round trip.'

One consequence of the madness perpetrated on Uvalde by former Robb Elementary pupil Ramos – who was ultimately shot dead by a United States Border Patrol Tactical Unit – is the number of extra state law enforcement still in the city.

'I'm confident we can cope,' said Yeackle. 

'Going back to the tragedy, we have extra personnel still here from the Department of Public Safety that remain part of the security at schools. 

'That's probably 20 plus additionally assigned beside the half dozen that operate on a regular basis here.

'Per capita, we probably have more law enforcement than any other place in the country. And with the situation on the border, we've also got Customs and Border Protection.'

Eclipse tourists to the city and surrounding area have faced some eyewatering hotel and Airbnb prices.

DailyMail.com found the modest Inn of Uvalde asking $3,090.97 for the nights of April 7 and 8 for one room for two people. 

By comparison, the cost for the following two nights was $255.39 including all taxes and fees. 

At the equally modest Motel 6 almost next door, the going rate was $1,279 for April 7 and 8 compared to a total of $191.18 for the next two nights.

'The money some hotels want for a room here, it's price gouging, but not necessarily a surprise,' said Yeackle. 

'Some were demanding a three night minimum and $900 a night not including taxes.

'It's my understanding that about 90 percent of rooms have been booked here in town, and I think about 85 per cent up in the Hill Country.

'Unfortunately, every major event throughout the world will have some folks who try to take advantage of visitors.

'A lot of people who are just going to show up thinking they're going to get a place to stay are going be in for a rude awakening. If there are any rooms left, the price is going to be obscenely high.

'And anyone who just rolls in with an RV will have equal problems, because most of the parks are completely booked out. I've heard of people renting out just a space in a field with nothing else for $100 a night.

'Kudos to the establishments who have chosen to be good neighbors and keep their charges reasonable. Because it's much more likely folks will stay with them when they revisit in the future.'

He added: 'We're in a stunning area where we can receive a lot of tourists at peak times enjoying floating on the Frio River, and we're 20 minutes from the Hill Country.

'But in terms of amenities, Uvalde is the center. It will be the hub. There's not much to choose from elsewhere. 

'For example, the community of Utopia has one gas station with two pumps and a population of about 400.'

Uvalde's relative remoteness within the path of totality also makes it a prime location to observe the phenomenon due to the lack of light pollution. 

Conditions on the day in Texas are also predicted to be near perfect for the event.

'We have up to 2,000 scientists and specialist eclipse followers coming here because of the location,' said Yeackle. 

'NASA experts will also be here monitoring at the Southwest Texas Junior College. Other visitors are coming from the United Kingdom, Germany, Asia, the Netherlands, pretty much everywhere.

'There's an entire sub-culture that follows these things around the world. There's terrific excitement here for it, despite the challenges and need to ensure everyone remains safe.'

However, Uvalde's reluctance to promote events, doesn't mean there aren't commercial attractions nearby on the day of the eclipse and leading up to it.

Eclipse revelers can enjoy three bands and a party atmosphere in a Wild West 'ghost town' atmosphere in Sabinal, 20 miles east of Uvalde.

The remote property, called Steel Reel City, was built about 15 years ago and is complete with a trading post, saloon with swing doors and a Mexican cantina over the dusty street. There's even a mock graveyard.

It's usually rented out for film sets but on April 8 will host a bash at $10 a head including glasses to view the eclipse safely.

Jake Jecmenek, 67, took DailyMail.com on a tour and said: 'This place was built by a musician called John Ramsey. And he wanted it to look like an old, old town. He wanted old lumber, he wanted it to look authentic.

'After several years he sold it to a family and they used it as their house, the master bedroom was the trading post. Kind of neat. The saloon was their living room.

'Then Cory Brooks bought it. I approached her and suggested filming movies here and now I help her here. 

'We filmed Lady Lawman, which was released in 2021, about Francis Miller the first deputy marshal in the old west, appointed in Paris, Texas in 1891.

'We don't know how many folk will be coming out on the 8th. It could be 200. We've got a stage we're getting ready, the food vendors are very excited.'

He added: 'Every business around here is going to make money. Loads of folk who are nothing to do with normal tourism are renting out their land for places to camp.

'And as for the doom and gloom people, they're way off. It's not going to be this huge power grid disaster or anything similar. These cities declaring a disaster – why?'

In the hills near the River Frio, north of Uvalde, Thea Davenport and her husband Oscar Mendoza are gearing up for the onslaught at their Neal's Lodges and the attached music venue and restaurant Joe Jimmy's in Concan.

Their 167 lodges are booked out, compared to 20 to 30 that would normally be occupied at this time of year, predominantly by bird watchers. 

'We had people making reservations two years ago for this,' said Thea. 'We've got people coming from Australia.

'This is not our normal busy season, normally we are very quiet. We're opening the bar on the weekend before and believe me, it's going to be very Texan with a band and line dancing.

'We've heard a lot of panic talk. This isn't a panic situation. It's amazing out here because you can see every star at night, it's gorgeous. 

'But to have this solar eclipse and view it in such a big sky setting, it's going to be incredible. We're excited.'

Thea added: 'We have all kinds of different people visit anyhow. We've got our good old Texas rednecks, you love 'em, and so many other types of people. But this is another ballgame.'

Thea and her husband are charging their normal high season rate.

'We're not gouging, and those who are find it's taking longer to fill their accommodation,' she said.

Thirteen states are on the path of totality for the event, officially known as the Great North American Eclipse. 

They are Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.

The places longest in darkness are the Texan communities of Concan, Leakey, and Hunt, all at 4 minutes 25 seconds.

Meanwhile, in Texas's state capital Austin – population nudging one million – they're going bats, in the best way. 

Scientists are concerned that the two million Mexican Freetail bats living under the Congress Avenue Bridge will become disoriented by the sudden darkness and flock out for a 'nightly' feeding session.

'We're renowned here for our bats,' Austin's director of communications Wesley Lucas told DailyMail.com. 

'It's a spectacular sight when they flock out at dusk for their feeding.

'But there is a genuine feeling that they could be confused by this eclipse and go out hunting for food way too early.'

Like Uvalde, Austin city officials are not actively promoting the host of events 'because we know people are going to come,' said Lucas. 

'Austin is a major city, we're the 10th largest in the United States.

'One study has predicted the direct economic impact to the Austin area could be anywhere from $74.6million up to $200million.

'There has been the emergency declaration but that's really for traffic, safety and infrastructure. Most schools will be closing, and that's to get vehicles off the roads.

'It's totally logistics – it's not about some theories that aliens are coming. Certainly, there is an awareness of the impact on telecommunications. 

'There is an emergency preparedness to enhance the 5G network because it will be under greater stress with everyone probably using their phones at the same time.

'However, that happens at all major events in Austin We're used to it. The Formula 1 US Grand Prix brings in up to 400,000 people to our city.

'In downtown Austin alone we have 58,000 hotel rooms and 77 per cent of those are booked right now between the Friday before the eclipse and the day itself.

'On average last year for around the same time the occupancy downtown was 55 percent. But, we have the Country Music Television awards the Sunday before the eclipse, so that blurs the figures slightly.'

Lucas emphasized: 'We're excited, this is pretty much a once in a lifetime event for us here. We just want people to be prepared if they visit.

'If you're in a car, bring extra water and snacks in case you're stuck. Fill that car with gas. I know there are some communities outside Austin where they're convinced their highways will just become parking lots.'